The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-12
! ROYAL STORY IN SONG.
ESTHER THE BEAUTIFUL QUEEN.
One of the Best and Most Successful
Entertainments Ever Given in the
Court IIouse.--TaIenf. Grace, ana
Benuty Combined Acquit Them-
selves Most Handsomely and TO


| On Wednesday evening, October 5th, the
| Cantata club with Miss Aylett Chalmers and
| Miss Mamie Lawson as directors, assisted by
| Prof Willis, gave the first public rendition OF
Esther, the Beautiful Queen" the procecds
going to the young ladies fund In the Metho'
dist church.
Rarely has the Court House on any occasion
been SO crowded with such an appreciative
and intelligent audience. Much had been en-
pected and we can safely say the most SAN
guine were perfectly satisfied IT was per-
feet success tinanCially-more so than any
church enter, ,ainmcnt heretofore In AopeFlilc
I-SlG05U net.
CASTE OF CHARACTERS.
King Ahasuerus-Col. II. T. Wardlaw.
Queen Esthcr-MiSs Aylett Chalmers.
| Haman-Dr. S. q. Thomson
Zerish-MiSs Corric McClnng.
Ida, the child of Zerish-Little Miss Agnes
Gary.
Mordccai's Sister-Miss Fanny Lawson.
| ProphcteSs-MiSS Orene Hughes.
Scribc-Mr. ID. w. Hicks.
IIarbonall-Prof. Willis.
Guards-Mr r. S. Link and Mr.. A. NJ. Du-
Pre-. ,-
Celia Chalmers. Miss Hannah Hemphill, Miss
| Kate Marshall, Miss Edna TuSten.
High Priest-Mr. w. ID. LomaX.
rages-Master Rob Perrin and Master Sd
Semi Chorus of Children-Mlss Nellie Sign,
Miss George Edwards, Miss Bessie Norrell'
Mis- M%Ty Wys TSsSa ts NsS NSa FLA mfSy Miss
Ida Hammond, Miss Annie Boarman, Miss
Ursula Wosmansky, Masters Willie Nell.
wane, Hal Sign, Rob Edwards, Bradley
Reese, Frank Lawson, Willie Lawson. Chris
tic Benet, Willie Hill.
Chorus of Jews and Persians-Miss Leila
OuarleS, Miss Agnes Quarles. Miss Cuddie Cal
houn, Miss Saldie Calhoun, Miss Kate Bruce,
Kate Cooger, Miss Mary DuPrc, Mr.. Jenner
Link, Mr.. Hertford Parks, Mr.. James Hill,
Mr. Frank Wardlaw, Mr.. Brown Syfan, MIR.
Frazier Lyon.
THE RAISING OF THE cURTAIN-BEAUTIFUL
NJ TABLEAUX.
Promptly at $50 the curtain rose on Act lst,
displaying Chorus OF Persians, most becom
| lngly attrcd in their white robes of "ye olden
times" All singing with appropriate gestures
and bowling to Haman, "The favored IN all
the Kings domain" as lie passed before them
while Mordecai, the desplsed Jew, sat in Sack
cloth at the royal gate.
Act End was especially we'll rendered.
In scene 1st Hamall's recitation and the
merry aha ! Ia! har' OF the King and Haman
echoed by the Persian ch orus called forth loud
applause, " hie the little pages did their part
we'll in responding to the Kings call fol
"more wine" Beautiful solo by Prophecies
ended this scene.
AS the curtain rose on scene 2nd the audi
ence were struck with the beautiful tableau
the Jews made as they stood with bowed
heads, instantly looking beSeechingly TO-
wards Mordecai as he entered singing.
AS the Queen and her Maid, entered al
knelt with bowed heads. The Chorus OF Jews
appealing TO Esther to make intercesSion iol
her people was strikingly pretty as also was
their prayer for success, after Esthers exit
all kneeling. with hands and eyes raised.
Act 4th-king on throne-Scribe entertain
ing him from scroll as the Queen entered and
halted Il moment for silent prayer and falls al
the feet of the King, who held out his scep
ire as the Guards charged upon her. T"educ'
between the King and Queen was most eX
quisitely rendered, and the Queen most just
~ deserved to have her request answered
'even to half OF the kingdom"
| Act 5th-Scene lSt-PerSians, Haman. Ze
rsh, Zcrish and attendants on stage. Herald
entered to bid Haman To banquet, which rs
ther had prepared. Zersh and attendants
put on his royal attire while singing. Aflel
herishs magnificent. solo all trip off stage
Ind Scene of ACT 4th-Scribe read TO King
from scroll how "the wicked chamberlaiil
sought to lay hands uron King Ahasuerus,'
and Mordecai saved his life. King sends fol
Haman to come and say "wnat must be done
| 10 the man whom the King deIighteth Ia
honor" Haman entered joyiully. his discom'
titure at the Kings command to take the roy
al apparel and the horse the King rideth up
on and thus honor M0rdecai, was true TO life
AS the King and Guards lett the stage chorus
OF Jews and PerSians ntered clapplnS hands
and shouting proud Haman begins to fall.
A day of rejoicing among the Jews.
| Mordccai'S Sisters prayer as she knclt with
hands and eyes raised was very pretty. Then
The High Priest stepped forward and as he
raised his hands TO bless his people, all knclt
with bowed heads, and as all raised their
hands and eyes to heaven In prayer cclorcd
lights were burned making most beautiful
| ablcau.
Act 9th. Triumphal march. King and
Queen on throne. Haman ADVANCED with
MOrdecia in royal apparel, singing "Ihus snail
it be done unto the man whom The King de;
| Iighteth to honor" all Joined In chorus. and
sang as they marched twice around, Then
the little boys murchcd in singing and form,
cd in position on either side OF throne, little
girls marched in singing and formed In front
of boys. The King and Queen with their sub
jectS all making u grand tablcau, OH which
colored lights were thrown.
The acting anu singing In scene End. or act
5th was especially good. Hannah, XcrSh
child audattendants knet In mute distress
when Herald entered 10 summon Haman to the
the King.
Then flies are drawn exposing King and
Queen on throne ready for banquet. Pages
walZted up TO them with wine, and while
King and Haman drank, waltzed beautifully
twice across stage King asks Queen her pc
| titiOn. Queen and her maids as they knelt
pleading for their lives and those Of their pco
pie made q beautiful picture. King denounc.
ed Haman and left angriely while Haman
Zerish and Child knelt to Queen who spurned
them. Neither would the Queen hear the
Supplicatlon of the child who went alone and
knelt to intercedc for her father. King again
entered to send Hannah forth to die on gal
| lows fifty cubits high" prepared by Hannah
| for Mordccia. AS Haman bade farewell tC
wife and child Mordccia knclt TO receive ring
from King as u token of his favor with the
| Kings.
dreaming" were beautiful. All advanced tG
! front of stage for the grand Finale, and thus
ended the most successful entertainment
Each who took part can ensratulate her OF
himself in having done much towards the
success of"Q Qucen Esther" the characters were
well chosen and all sustained parts Sn well as
TO make II appear like something moro than
an entertainment OF amateurs.
| THE APPAREL OF THE ACTORS.
The dresses, Il short description Of which we
give below, were rich, beautiful and most he
coming. Never did the young ladies appear
more l0vcablc, while the young men,-wel
Abheviile has always bOastcd OF her fine look
I Ing men and In this case the robes rather
added than detracted from their appearance
i Col. II. r. Wardaw as King Ahilsuerus ir
his royal robe OF blue Yelvet-cmbroidcred In
mad made a most perfect "His Royal Highncss."
Miss AylctG Chalmers robed in white EN-.
broidercd in gold and robe of purple and er
mine and jewelled crown made most regal
and beautiful Queen Esther.
DR.. :. G. Thomson as liaman "the favored
one in all the kinpS doniion' more roya
purple robe chains and crown of gold.
Miss Corrie McCluEg as Icrish was most be-
comingly robed In crimson embroidered In
gold, crown of gold and Jewels.
Mr.. J. C.. Klugh as Mordecai dress Of sack
cloth while mourning for his people. After
lsaEcl III Ivy iooC vi
purple and gold-crown of gold.
Miss Fanny Lawson as MOrdecars sister
wore mourning robe OF white and b!acl;
sash and turban fllagrecd with silver and
gold.
Miss Orene Hughes as Prophecies crimson
and black robe, gold and jcwelled crown.
Mr.. ID. w. Hicks as Scribe, robe and sash OF
crimson over green.
Mcssrs. II. :. Link and 4. NJ. DuPre as
guards, blue robes ana turbans, white sashes
gold chains.
Mr.. W. y. Lomax rs High Priest, yellow